Improvement in current water-wheels



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Letters Patent No.` 98,891, dated January 18, 1870.

IMPROVEMENT IN CURRENT WATER-WHEELS.

The Schedule referred to :in these Letters Patent and making part of the same Be it known that I, ARTAXERXES W. Soar, of Prairiecounty, State of Arkansas, have invented a new and useful Improvement on an Undershot Water-Wheel; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, the annexed drawing making a part of this specication, in which- Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views, and

Figure 3, an end view.

The shaft, arms, and braces A are made as other undershot water-wheels are.

The paddles B are fastened to thewheel with hinges at c.

'Ihe sections are made by cutting the paddles in two or more parts, amlfastenng each, so that they will be independent of each other, as represented in iig. 2.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation. Y

I construct my wheel as ordinary under-shot waterwheels are constructed, with the exception that I fasten my paddles to the wheel with hinges, making a joint, as shown at c in the drawing, so that .the paddle will drop backward, as soon as the pressure of water below .is greater than that above, causing the paddle to be drawn out of the water edgewise, as at I) and E, thereby preventing thc wheel from being encuinbered by the eddy-water below.

As the wheel turns, the paddle drops backward, till it rests on the next paddle iu rear, or its brace, as at F.

When the paddle arrives on the upper side, at G, it drops forward, and is supported by its bra-ce H.

In combination with the wheel, as described, I also cut my paddles in two or more sections, for the purpose ot' preventing logs, and other floating substances, from stopping or checking the wheel, as in iig. 2. Here the paddle is represented in three sections, or three paddles on thelsame line, each independent of the other, and it' a log, as represented at I, comes inl contact with the wheel, the paddle K drops on the log, and the remaining paddles take their proper places at L, and the current drives the log through, without checking or injuring the wheel iu any way.

The brace H is in front of the paddle, to prevent it from passing a perpendicular to the shaft, when the weight ofthe water is against it. It may be made by extending the arm, or a palt, or a false arm, the full depth of the paddle, or a part, as the case may require, as at H.

I run my wheel` by placing it on and between two anchored boats.

I am aware of the existence j of undershot waterwheels working upon a hinge, and do not wish to claim, broadly, the principle` or mode of constructing such; but, limiting myselt' to the general arrangement and construct-ion,

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

rllhe wheel, consisting of the main shaft, radiating arms and hinged paddles, the paddles being made and hinged in sections, each section being adapted for independent action, all as shown and described.

` ARTAXERXES W. SORY.

Witnesses:

M. E. SORY, JN0. S. WILLIAMS. 

